The Nigerian Communications Commission has acknowledged growing public dissatisfaction over poor telecommunications services across parts of the country, assuring Nigerians that efforts are underway to improve network quality and service delivery.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, the NCC admitted that consumers continue to experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data connections and service disruptions affecting daily activities.
The Commission noted that telecommunications services now play a vital role in business, education, healthcare and social interaction, stressing that consumers deserve reliable services and value for their money.
According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service has remained a major regulatory priority over the past two years. The Commission said it had intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers and Tower Companies, while strengthening oversight and collaboration with relevant institutions to tackle structural challenges affecting service delivery.
The Commission disclosed that the telecommunications sector is currently undergoing one of its largest network expansion and modernisation drives in recent years, following prolonged under-investment.
It revealed that in 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested more than N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support the expansion. The investments led to the addition and upgrade of over 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide.
The NCC said the interventions included the deployment of faster 4G and 5G technologies, expansion of fibre infrastructure, improved network resilience, targeted upgrades in high-demand urban areas and expansion into underserved communities.
The Commission added that the expansion continued in 2026, with commitments secured for the addition and upgrade of more than 12,000 sites this year, nearly 3,000 of which have already been completed. It also disclosed that over 730 new 5G sites had been deployed across 27 states in 2026.
The regulator further stated that it had facilitated the reallocation of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators to improve network efficiency, capacity and overall service performance.
According to the NCC’s Quality of Service assessments, there have been gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity and internet download speeds across several parts of the country. It said 4G penetration rose from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.
Despite the improvements, the Commission maintained that service quality must improve further, particularly in areas still affected by poor call quality, congestion, slow internet speeds and unstable connections.
The NCC also identified major external threats affecting network performance, including vandalism, fibre cuts, power disruptions and restricted access to telecommunications infrastructure.
It revealed that more than 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents linked mainly to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded nationwide in 2025, significantly affecting network availability and consumer experience.
The Commission said it was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and tackle the theft and vandalism of telecommunications equipment.
To improve transparency, the NCC directed operators to promptly notify consumers whenever major service outages occur and restore services within specified timeframes.
The Commission warned that enforcement actions against operators failing to deliver measurable improvements would continue under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, including consumer compensation and additional investment obligations where necessary.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable and high-quality telecommunications services, insisting that the industry must now deliver measurable improvements in the interest of consumers and the wider economy.
